Lord Don Foster and local Liberal Democrats visit the Port of Felixstowe on a fact-finding tour

Today, as the UK considers its future trading relationships with Europe and the rest of the world, the Liberal Democrats' new shadow Business Secretary (and Suffolk resident) Lord Don Foster of Bath led a fact-finding tour of the Port of Felixstowe. The Port is Britain's largest and busiest container port, and one of the region's largest employers.

The party of Liberal Democrats included Suffolk county and district councillors, and local party officers:

• County Councillors, Inga Lockington from Ipswich, and John Field from Gipping Valley
• Suffolk Coastal District Councillor, John Kelso
• Ipswich Borough Councillor, Oliver Holmes
• the Chair of Suffolk Liberal Democrats, Jon James
• local party officers from Felixstowe and Mid Suffolk.

In a wide-ranging discussion with Port staff, the party learned about some of the Port's plans for the future, the impact of Brexit and how the company saw its role adapting in a post-Referendum era.

Lord Foster added: "this was a timely, impressive and most helpful insight into one of the biggest players in the container business, and a vital contributor to both our domestic and global markets. I was impressed by what I saw, and am delighted that the Port's confidence is high".